Королі та капуста

           OneofaBarbarystate,andoneoftheMakarooroos,atribeonthewestcoastofAfrica.Ihavenotthose,buttheycanbeprocured.Butthisflag,señor—doyouknowwhatitis?NameofGod!doyouknow?Seethatredcrossupontheblueandwhiteground!Youneversawitbefore?Seguramenteno.Itisthenavalflagofyourcountry.Mire!Thisrottentubwestanduponisitsnavy—thatdeadcockatoolyingtherewasitscommander—thatstrokeofcutlassandsinglepistolshotaseabattle.Allapieceofabsurdfoolery,Igrantyou—butauthentic.Therehasneverbeenanotherflaglikethis,andthereneverwillbeanother.No.Itisuniqueinthewholeworld.Yes.Thinkofwhatthatmeanstoacollectorofflags!Doyouknow,Coronelmio,howmanygoldencrownsHerrGrunitzwouldgiveforthisflag?Tenthousand,likely.Well,ahundredthousandwouldnotbuyit.Beautifulflag!Onlyflag!Littledevilofamostheaven-bornflag!O-hé!oldgrumblerbeyondtheocean.WaittillDonSabascomesagaintotheKöniginStrasse.Hewillletyoukneelandtouchthefoldsofitwithonefinger.O-hé!oldspectacledransackeroftheworld!"

           Forgottenwastheimpotentrevolution,thedanger,theloss,thegallofdefeat.Possessedsolelybytheinordinateandunparalleledpassionofthecollector,hestrodeupanddownthelittledeck,claspingtohisbreastwithonehandtheparagonofaflag.Hesnappedhisfingerstriumphantlytowardtheeast.Heshoutedthepaeantohisprizeintrumpettones,asthoughhewouldmakeoldGrunitzhearinhismustydenbeyondthesea.